Group makes ‘very credible’ pitch for Halifax CFL franchise

[S.A.C.]

... A 10 team league is ideal. Keep divisional crossover... You play a home and away game with each team...

If there's a league with ten teams and an 18 game schedule where all the teams play each other twice a year, isn't that just a single ten-team league with no divisions?

[Scooter McCray]

If there's a league with ten teams and an 18 game schedule where all the teams play each other twice a year, isn't that just a single ten-team league with no divisions?

Maintain the divisions and the playoff crossover. The likelihood of a weak team in the playoffs becomes much less. Interlocking schedule eliminates playing on anything less than 6 days rest.

[S.A.C.]

My point is that, in a league that supposedly has separate divisions and gives first round playoff byes to the division winners, part of that type of arrangement is having an unbalanced schedule. They could no longer realistically get away with pretending to have separate divisions if every team in the league is playing each other the same number of times. It would be difficult to justify arbitrarily designating the team that was in 4th or 5th place in the 10-team league to inexplicably be a "division winner" and give them a first round playoff bye and then a home game in the league's semi-final.

[R.J]

My point is that, in a league that supposedly has separate divisions and gives first round playoff byes to the division winners, part of that type of arrangement is having an unbalanced schedule. They could no longer realistically get away with pretending to have separate divisions if every team in the league is playing each other the same number of times. It would be difficult to justify arbitrarily designating the team that was in 4th or 5th place in the 10-team league to inexplicably be a "division winner" and give them a first round playoff bye and then a home game in the semi-final.

I don't think the League would have each team playing each other twice, inter divisional match-ups would still be prominent in the schedule. When people talk about schedule balance it has nothing to do with teams playing each other an even numbers of times, it's to balance out the bye weeks and the time teams have between games. I personally think the whole one division thing is way over blown, and I don't think people really understand how important East vs. West is during the playoffs, also when's the last time we had an all West Grey Cup ? Winnipeg's tenure is the East doesn't count.

The West had been stronger in the NHL and NBA for years, and they didn't change anything.

[argotom]

Absolutely the league will have a balanced schedule of each team playing the other twice.
That is one of the major reasons for bringing in a new team so we can get 5 great games every week.
No one wants to see 3 or 4 games when it used to be an 8 team league against the same team.

[paulwoods13]

My point is that, in a league that supposedly has separate divisions and gives first round playoff byes to the division winners, part of that type of arrangement is having an unbalanced schedule. They could no longer realistically get away with pretending to have separate divisions if every team in the league is playing each other the same number of times. It would be difficult to justify arbitrarily designating the team that was in 4th or 5th place in the 10-team league to inexplicably be a "division winner" and give them a first round playoff bye and then a home game in the league's semi-final.

A completely balanced schedule wouldn't be dramatically different that what we have now, where every team in both divisions plays 10 games against the west and eight against the east. If we ever get to 10 teams, I would still want to see all teams in the league once a year in Toronto, and I definitely wouldn't want to see three games against every team in my division. But I'd still retain the two divisions, and I expect the league will do that despite the current noise emanating out of the west for a single division.

[Bruro]

A 10 team league, one division would be ideal. Top two teams get a bye (as an incentive first place team is automatically awarded the grey cup the following year). Teams 3-6 play the first round. Moreover a 10 team league can have a balance schedule. 5 games every weekend. Maybe a bye at labour day where there are 2 big games and 3 games the next weekend. Season can be shortened as well. Big myth of CFL is fans love the cold weather of November. been proven time and time over the years that attendance actually drops towards the end of the season and into the playoffs. a lot of it has to do with cold! Season should start mid June and grey cup should be in the second week of November, the latest

[Bruro]

I still think Quebec City would be a better fit. Bigger population (same size as Winnipeg) and the current university stadium can be retrofitted to CFL stsndards less costly than a brand new one in Halifax. Plus a Quebec -alouettes rivalry would be great! Like the Nordiques and Habs. Would add life to the Montreal franchise

[AngeloV]

I still think Quebec City would be a better fit. Bigger population (same size as Winnipeg) and the current university stadium can be retrofitted to CFL stsndards less costly than a brand new one in Halifax. Plus a Quebec -alouettes rivalry would be great! Like the Nordiques and Habs. Would add life to the Montreal franchise

Disagree. Halifax would be pulling support from an entire region. It would be similar to Riderville IMO.

[Bruro]

Disagree. Originally from Newfoundland. Thinking newfies would support a team in halifax is like thinking people in winnipeg would support a team in Regina. Ditto for new brunswickers as well. Plus a new stadium will cost 250 mill min. Unless the provincial government ponies up the cash it will not get built period. At least in Quebec City they have that university stadium that can be built up to CFL standards. New and sits 12k. Can be expanded to 25k at 100-150 mil tops.

[ArgoGabe22]

Disagree. Originally from Newfoundland. Thinking newfies would support a team in halifax is like thinking people in winnipeg would support a team in Regina.

I don't know if anyone really expects Newfoundland to support it since its not geographically connected but I can see PEI, NB support it. Although, I think this was why people were pushing for Moncton, since it's more central to everything.

[AngeloV]

Disagree. Originally from Newfoundland. Thinking newfies would support a team in halifax is like thinking people in winnipeg would support a team in Regina. Ditto for new brunswickers as well. Plus a new stadium will cost 250 mill min. Unless the provincial government ponies up the cash it will not get built period. At least in Quebec City they have that university stadium that can be built up to CFL standards. New and sits 12k. Can be expanded to 25k at 100-150 mil tops.

I was talking more New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Quebec city drew like 3k for an Allouettes pre season game. Doesn't exactly scream "give us a team". Both Halifax and Moncton did much better when the hosted games. The Laval crowds could be more about school spirit than actual football fans. The Maritimes would tret a CFL franchise of their own like gold.

[OV Argo]

I was talking more New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Quebec city drew like 3k for an Allouettes pre season game. Doesn't exactly scream "give us a team". Both Halifax and Moncton did much better when the hosted games. The Laval crowds could be more about school spirit than actual football fans. The Maritimes would tret a CFL franchise of their own like gold.

Agreed AV - IMO the entire Maritimes region would travel to support their team - just like in Sask.

They could also hold one or even 2 games a year at that facility in Moncton that has hosted CFL games before.

This needs to happen - IMO about the single biggest thing the CFL could do = get to 10 teams - and Atlantic Canada with a team to make it a true coast to coast CFL; 5 games a week instead of 4 would be huge IMO.

[R.J]

Disagree. Originally from Newfoundland. Thinking newfies would support a team in halifax is like thinking people in winnipeg would support a team in Regina. Ditto for new brunswickers as well. Plus a new stadium will cost 250 mill min. Unless the provincial government ponies up the cash it will not get built period. At least in Quebec City they have that university stadium that can be built up to CFL standards. New and sits 12k. Can be expanded to 25k at 100-150 mil tops.

Telus stadium has a maximum seating capacity of 19,500, and there's no more room to expand it, so I don't see that working for the CFL. Quebec is also missing a potential ownership group.

[rdavies]

Disagree. Originally from Newfoundland. Thinking newfies would support a team in halifax is like thinking people in winnipeg would support a team in Regina. Ditto for new brunswickers as well. Plus a new stadium will cost 250 mill min. Unless the provincial government ponies up the cash it will not get built period. At least in Quebec City they have that university stadium that can be built up to CFL standards. New and sits 12k. Can be expanded to 25k at 100-150 mil tops.

Lots wrong with this post. The team will likely be called the Atlantic Schooners for many reasons. Atlantic includes Nfld and the one thing we can agree on is there won't be too much Newfie support re: tickets. But that does not preclude down the road building a market (however small) for TV ratings and team gear.

I lived in all three Maritime provinces, it will be a regional team and there won't be any petty squabbles about supporting it, it will mimic the Riders.

As for the stadium costing 250 million that would get the equivalent of something between IGF and Mosaic, that won't happen. THF at 145 million is more like it. I can easily see it getting federal and provincial funding if the ownership can get Dal and SMU on board. You can get federal money for university infrastructure.

Expansion of the Laval stadium is not that easy. Moncton's 10k relatively new stadium would cost up to 100 million to bring it up to snuff (according to Cohon), same would go for Laval. Also Laval has a private backer for the football team and they are very happy with the status quo. If they wanted a CFL team the news would be out there, they don't. They like being a big fish in a small pond.

[Argo57]

Disagree. Halifax would be pulling support from an entire region. It would be similar to Riderville IMO.

That makes the most sense to me as well.

[argotom]

Disagree. Halifax would be pulling support from an entire region. It would be similar to Riderville IMO.

Agree, don't forget Atlantic Canada do not have another pro team and just like Saskatchewan.
The name must be Atlantic something, I like the Storm!
This could be another Ottawa financial boom.

[S.A.C.]

The name must be Atlantic something, I like the Storm!

Destroyers?
Anything, as long as it's not the Halifax Explosion.

[rdavies]

Destroyers? Anything, as long as it's not the Halifax Explosion.

I actually like the sound of Halifax Explosion but it will be a regional name Atlantic ???

Destroyers has a nice ring about it but isn't totally accurate historically speaking. Yup they convoyed destroyers across the Atlantic during the war but the Corvette had much more significance. I'm also not keen on the sound of Atlantic Corvettes.

It's not going to be Maritime anything, especially Marauders which makes no historic sense and even though Privateers has some cachet it is mostly related to NS. Schooners is really the only name that I can think of that could be made acceptable to the entire region and it works on several different levels.

[rdavies]

The name must be Atlantic something, I like the Storm!

Not bad. It has to be Atlantic so as not to preclude NF even though they would be an infinitesimal part of it. You would be looking to build that market down the road for other opportunities aside from ticket sales. Atlantic also flows off the tongue better with the potential candidate names. They'll pick something that makes sense historically and geographically not like Raptors : ( Apparently lots of fossil finds in the GTA moreso than AB : ) Will likely be Schooners as it ties in with all the provinces shipbuilding history, it's on the dime (still is isn't it?) and of course a good tie in with the beer.